Tajima

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Tajima is a manufacturer of single and multi-head embroidery machines. The Tajima embroidery machine company is based out of Japan. Tajima is one of the most popular embroidery machine companies in the world. The early model Tajimas produced till around 1996 were more green color based. Around the mid 1996's Tajima changed from the light green color scheme with dark green logo to, their more common white color scheme with a green, pink and blue logo. Tokai Industrial Sewing Machines Co. LTD was the original manufactures of the machines distributed by Tajima.

Tajima has produced embroidery machines with 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 and 24 heads. In The United States most all Tajima models are 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12 head. Most the 8 head machines and machines larger than 12 heads were more common in other countries. Very few 8 heads can be found in the United States but are much more common in Asian countries. Tajima has produced machines with 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 15 needles.

History, origin and sales

The Tajima embroidery machine company rose to popularity in the United States between the very late 1980s and the very early 1990s. Along with the Barudan embroidery machine, Tajima was one of the top 2 embroidery machines nationwide in the USA. Both Barudan and Tajima remain to be the two most popular models in the United States for production embroidery usage.

Tajima continues to lead sales in most of the west and south of the USA whereas Barudan leads sales in the north and east. Most of the rest of the United States is evenly divided among the two major embroidery machines (Tajima and Barudan). Tajimas are more commonly seen around Mexico and most of Central America whereas Barudan tends to lead sales in countries such as Colombia, Peru, Venezuela. Countries such as Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and Chile are divided among both Tajima and Barudan for popularity rights.

Tajimas machines original ran off paper punch cards from the 1970s till the 1980s when they were replaced by paper tape. Paper tape was soon replaced by floppy drives. Most all Tajima machines today are now run off USB drives.

Other Equipment

In addition to Tajima producing single and multi-head embroidery machines, Tajima also produces chenille machines, and machines with sequin devices.

Software Extensions

Tajima DST (.dst) is the most common software extension for Tajima software and machines.

Embroidery Machines

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TMEX-C / TMFX Series

Tajima TMEX-C / TMFX Control Panel with optional FloppyToUSB installed

The Tajima TMFX model has been one of the longest produced models of the Tajima embroidery machine series.

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Tajima claims the TMEX-C machine was The World First with Wide Cap Frame. "The WORLD FIRST! The wide cap frame drastically expands your embroidery repertoire to include everything from designs on the front of the cap to designs that extends to the wide panels. It opens up unlimited possibilities for creative cap embroidery and for significant imporments in added value."

1990-20xx

In 1990 Tajima released the TMFX series embroidery machine. The TMFX models came in both single head and multi-head versions. The first TMFX model was the TMFX-C901 model which was a nine needle single head embroidery machine. The machine had automatic color change and automatic trimmers. The single head and dual head models both had removable bases.

Tajima only used the TMFX model as a single head for about 1 year. The single head was then commonly known as the TMEX-C machine which was basically a one head version of the TMFx.

A very small percentage (less than 5%) of the TMFX and TMEX machines used narrow height floppy disk drives. The narrow height floppy disk drives have long been discontinued. Only regular sized floppy drives and floppy to USB drives can be used to replace the old 3 1/2 floppy drives on these machines. This means a very few amount of the TMFX control panels must be slight enlarged at the floppy drive port when accommodating these newer style drives.

The Tajima TMFX and TMEX share very similar, almost identical, control panels.

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TME-HC Series

In 1990 Tajima released the TME-HC series embroidery machine. The TME-HC did not come with a floppy disk drive and only came with ports for external readers such as an external paper tape reader or Floppy Drive. The machine came in options of 4,6, 12, 15 or 20 heads. The machine only had manually removable table tops (nothing automatic). The machine was only available as 6 or 9 needles.

1990-1992

In 1990 Tajima released their first TME-HC model. The original HC models had mechanical thread break detectors that ran off a mechanical cam system. When the machine made a color change, the lob of the cam would physically close the thread break detection circuit. The HC models from this era had pretension knobs apart from the heads located in front of the mechanical thread break detection system.

1993-1994

The TME-HC machines released after 1992 came with standard DU-10 power boxes for the X and Y card. Each head was equipped with individual thread break boards and sensors, replacing the original HC design. The machines from this era looked much more like their predecessor, the TME-DC. The last TME-HC machine was produced in 1994.

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TME-DC Series

In 1994 Tajima released the TME-DC series embroidery machine.

Tajima TME-DC912 model circa 1994

The Tajima TME-DC was the next model up from the TME-HC model produced the previous years before. Unlile the TME-HC machine, the Tajima TME-DC models came standard with a Floppy Disk Drive. The Tajima DC series also came with upgraded control panel, motors, and motor controllers. Many models of the Tajima DC also came with Hydraulic Tables but, standard removable table tops were still available on some for a lesser price. The Tajima TME-DC models were available in 6, 12, 15 and 20 heads. The early machines built in the early and mid 1990s were mostly 9 needles. Around year 2000 most all models were standard 12 needles.

See also

• FloppyToUSB
• Tajima TMFX Electronics

External links

• PLRElectronics - Tajima TMFX User Manual
• FloppyToUSB - Floppy To USB Convertor